Saliva ejector

• US 3,881,254 A
• Filed: 02/06/1974
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Louis C. Epstein
• Original Assignee: Louis C. Epstein
• Inventors: Epstein, Louis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peshock, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lever, J. Q.
• Application Number:
  US05/440,074
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 32/33 128/240,241,276,277,278,350,276
• US Class Current: 433/96
• CPC Class Codes: A61C 17/08 Aspiration nozzles

Abstract

A saliva ejector is described in which the available suction power is concentrated at a single point and is not diffused. The point of concentration is so positioned as to be directly in contact with the floor of the mouth, where the saliva first pools. To prevent the delicate tissues of the mouth from being drawn into the ejector and thereby clogging the ejector, a minimal amount of atmospheric air is sucked or leaked into the ejector at a point closely adjacent to but removed from the point of intake of saliva, and the area at which said atmospheric air is introduced is protected in a manner to prevent the mouth tissues from being drawn into said area of intake.

Claims

1. A saliva ejector of the chAracter described, comprising a suction tube, an ejector head comprising a spherical portion and a stem extending radially from said spherical portion and frictionally secured within one end of said suction tube, said head having a single suction passageay extending completely diametrically through said spherical portion and axially through said stem, with the axis of said passageway coaxial with said suction tube, and means for aspirating a minimal amount of atmospheric air into the space between said stem and the inner wall of said suction tube.

2. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 1, wherein said means comprises at least one passageway between the inner wall of said suction tube and the outer wall of said stem.

3. A saliva ejector of the character described, comprising a suction tube having an entry end, an ejector head comprising a spherical portion and a stem extending radially from said spherical portion and frictionally secured within said entry end of said suction tube, said head having a single suction passageway extending diametrically through said spherical portion and axially through said stem, with the axis of said passageway coaxial with the axis of said entry end of said tube, said stem having flat side walls forming with the inner wall of said entry end of said tube passageways for entry of atmospheric air into said suction tube.

4. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 3, wherein said flat side walls of said stem form corners which are frictionally secured within said entry end of said suction tube.

5. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 4, including means for supporting the entry end of the suction tube in spaced relation to the surface of said spherical portion of said head.

6. A saliva ejector of the character described, comprising a suction tube having an entry end, an ejector head comprising a spherical portion and a stem extending radially from said spherical portion and frictionally secured within said entry end of said suction tube, said head having a single suction passageway extending diametrically through said spherical portion and axially through said stem, with the axis of said passageway coaxial with the axis of the entry end of said tube, said entry end of said tube being in contiguity with the surface of said spherical portion of said head, said stem having circumferentially-spaced passageways in its outer wall extending from the upper end of said stem to points below the lower end of said entry end of said tube, and passageways below the lower end of said entry end of said tube communicating the lower ends of said spaced passageways with the atmosphere.

7. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 6, said last-named passageways extending through said spherical portion of said head.

8. A saliva ejector of the character described, comprising a suction tube, an ejector head comprising a spherical portion and a stem extending radially from said spherical portion and frictionally secured within one end of said suction tube, said head having a single suction passageway extending diametrically through said spherical portion and axially through said stem, with the axis of said passageway coaxial with said suction tube, there being a series of circumferentially-spaced passageways between the inner wall of said suction tube and the outer wall of said stem providing means for aspirating a minimal amount of atmospheric air into the space between said stem and the inner wall of said suction tube.

9. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 8, wherein said spaced passageways are formed as channel-shaped grooves in said stem, and channel-shaped passageways are provided in said spherical portion, which extend from the lower ends of said channel-shaped grooves to the outer surface of said spherical portion of said head.

10. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 8, including means for spacing the end of said suction tube from the spherical portion of said head, whereby to facilitate entry of said atmospheric air into the lower ends of said Spaced passageways.

11. A saliva ejector of the character described, comprising a suction tube, an ejector head comprising a spherical portion and a stem extending radially from said spherical portion and frictionally secured within one end of said suction tube, said head having a single suction passageway extending through said spherical portion and axially through said stem, with the portion of said passageway which extends through said stem coaxial with said suction tube, and means for aspirating a minimal amount of atmospheric air into the space between said stem and the inner wall of said suction tube.

12. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 11, wherein said means comprises at least one passageway between the inner wall of said suction tube and the outer wall of said stem.

13. A saliva ejector, as defined in claim 11, wherein said means comprises a series of circumferentially spaced passageways between the inner wall of said suction tube and the outer wall of said stem.